By Jack Sercu
You’re probably thinking, “Wow, that’s a sweet tattoo” —because it is.
And if you knew the reason somebody had it, and the way they got it, you'd like it even more.
Reader, meet Branded Warriors Inc. Branded Warriors Inc, meet reader.
BWI was established in March of 2016, with a mission to help put an end to the 22 vets that take their lives every day.
Their method of doing that is tattoo therapy. Founder and CEO Brian Conwell was moved to start BWI after tattoo therapy helped him cope with many of the issues he sustained in 10 years in the Army.
Once a veteran contacts BWI, it coordinates payments for a local tattoo shop to give the veteran a tattoo, using the money they raise. Leading up to the tattoo, Conwell has lots of vet-to-vet conversations. Following that, the veteran goes in themselves, meets with the artist, then designs and receives the tattoo.
How you can help:
If you're a tattoo artist...
You can donate your time and materials to make a tattoo free for the veteran, which is also tax deductible. Contact bconwell0@gmail.com if interested in doing so.
If you own tattoo shop...
You can donate your service which is also tax deductible, and results earns your business BWI-preferred status. Perks also include free advertising on social media and and radio. Contact the above email address if interested.
If you're in the area...
Attend a local fundraiser like the Halloween Fundraiser in Phoenix, AZ this Saturday, October 29th (details below), or the America Helping Our Veterans, Our Heroes event on November 19th in Greenville, South Carolina.
If you can't make it...
You can still buy tickets to the raffles that will take place at the fundraisers. Get yours from anywhere around the country by emailing jamie777miller@yahoo.com Prizes include a shotgun and other items.
If you want to do a straight donation...
Donate to their GoFundMe
Tattoos are very important to veterans, and they serve as a tangible form of expression, allowing them to express their feelings, previous events or anything else they would like to. In addition to coordinating tattoos, BWI serves as a friend and mentor to the veterans if they are struggling.
Comments
Disabled Army Vet in TN, I’ve got a tatto that could use fixing from a BF battle. It was supposed to be my airborne wings, and it’s an odd shaped outline at the moment. Would like to get it fixed/finished to display it proudly, but times are hard.
I’m a wounded veteran in Tucson. Things have been a bit tough lately, wanted to know if there’s a shop here in AZ I can get in touch with? Thanks for starting this organization.
Army veteran that spent 9 years in with a year long deployment in Iraq. I have ideas for a tattoo that I want to symbolize my time in the Army and my current law Enforcement career, I just can’t afford it. I live in the Boulder area in Colorado.
Army veteran that spent 9 years in with a year long deployment in Iraq. I have ideas for a tattoo that I want to symbolize my time in the Army and my current law Enforcement career, I just can’t afford it. I live in the Boulder area in Colorado.
Is there a way as a disabled vet to sign up for a tattoo?
Interested Frank Montoya was in the military for 22 years retired Sergeant First Class couple of deployments I teach spin class in the morning and I also personal train have a lot of hobbies farming animals gardening hunting Fishing traveling scuba diving spend a lot of time at the VA doing weekly Group and men’s group at Calvary I did Odyssey with Wounded Warriors and this is how I got your site hoping to do a tattoo session with you guys thanks
My fiancée is a disabled vet and has bad ptsd. Air Force Pararescueman and father of 9. He’s an inspiration and I am trying to figure out how to help him get an awesome 9/11 tattoo as his dad died on 9/11. His dad was a green beret in Vietnam and airborne. Please help.
I’m a disabled vet and have some bad tattoos I would like to get covered up but cannot afford shop prices to get the work done and really had a bad experience with a bad reaction to getting shotty work done I really need help please
Vietnam vet,who in Webster Texas does this ? And how do I sign up.
Hi,
I think this is an awesome way to help veterans. I am a combat veteran and am interested in getting a tattoo, how do I go about doing this ?
Hi Matt,
Thank you for the comment. This article doesn’t talk about his issues other than the fact that he used tattoo therapy to help—like many other veterans we know. This is a post to discuss a non-profit to help veterans transition and heal. If you feel that something is being misrepresented here, please contact us direct at info@combatflipflops.com. Thank you.Griff
How do I contact them as a combat vet to sign up to receive a tattoo and to help spread the word and help the cause.
Is this real? I am a veteran and I’ve never heard of this. Fantastic was to help heal in my opinion. I would like to get in touch with whoever to talk.
V/R,
PO2 Dallas Bare, USCG
I was Brian con wells supervisor for three years I’d like to know what angle and what info your basing it off of about Brian because he did not loose and limbs or suffer any major issues until he was hit by a drunk driver. In Oklahoma a couple years ago. And I find it fraud to use that as an angle to promote business…….